I’ll readily acknowledge that I may have jumped the gun with my initial assessment. The debut episode of Below Deck hinted at a whirlwind of chaos – from a near-breaking point chef, annoying guests, and a struggling bosun. However, as the crew adjusts to the charter rhythm, the drama seems to dwindle. This week’s events are essentially extensions of the conflicts established in the premiere. Despite this, there was an enjoyable sense of watching them find their stride. In the end, Captain Kerry commends them, acknowledging they stuttered but managed to deliver. It’s premature to make sweeping conclusions, but a blend of intense chaos and smoother sailing could result in a comfortable, engaging season.
Let’s examine the conflict situation surrounding St. David now. After an intense 45-minute outburst last week, Lawrence calms down. Fraser inquires if there’s any way to motivate him to reconsider reality television, but he seems resolute about departing. Kerry decides it’s best not to push; someone so easily spooked this early on might cause more issues later. Seeing that he will be leaving soon, tension lifts from the chef’s mind and he settles comfortably into his role. The meal for the guests appears delightful, fresh, and refined. His “Bollywood Nights” curry is so exceptional that primary Sam declares it surpasses his mother’s cooking.
In the meantime, Fraser and Kerry brainstorm a strategy to recruit another chef promptly. Fraser proposes they rehire last year’s Anthony, whom he considers like a brother. Last season, Anthony had a promising start but eventually lost his flair. By midseason, the food quality deteriorated so significantly that Kerry had no choice but to dismiss him. However, Fraser makes a compelling case that this could be an opportunity for Anthony to make amends. Kerry concurs, and while it seems like the start of a heartwarming tale of redemption, things are likely to be more complex: Anthony is joining the St. David harboring resentment towards Fraser.
From Anthony, we discover that Barbie, who was once a rival of Fraser during the last season and a friend of his, claimed to him that Fraser played a significant role in his dismissal, which Anthony perceives as a betrayal. However, Barbie seems to manipulate the facts: While Fraser did express concerns about Anthony’s performance to Kerry, it was ultimately not within his power to fire the chef; he lacked the authority for such a decision. Despite this, Fraser has always supported Anthony. In the new season, they will share a room. The season finale hints at a confrontation between them 16 days later, suggesting that the editors are eagerly anticipating conflict to keep viewers engaged.
Despite the chef’s efforts to maintain harmony, there are indications of strain within the crew. While they present a unified front for guests, tensions simmer beneath the surface. For instance, Bárbara, recognizing the need to keep Solène content, adjusts her approach to suit Solène’s sensibilities rather than pushing for direct confrontation. On the second day of the charter, as guests enjoy their breakfast, Rainbeau and Solène handle cabin cleaning duties. Rainbeau completes three and a half times more work in the time it takes Solène to do half. When faced with a small amount of fecal matter in one of the toilets, Rainbeau swiftly cleans it up, taking less than 30 seconds. She reassures Solène that at least it’s in the toilet, where it belongs.
Later on, Barbara privately discusses her concerns with Fraser about Solène. She explains that Solène only follows instructions when told they are directly from the chief stew. This makes sense since it can be frustrating to receive orders from someone not your superior. However, Solène doesn’t seem to know many things, and she often questions the need for certain tasks. Barbara attempts to convey that the reasoning behind tasks isn’t important when there is so much work to be done and limited time. After the guests depart, Fraser advises Solène to heed the guidance of the other stews as they are skilled and knowledgeable. It will be part of her learning experience as a yacht crew member to follow instructions without questioning or querying why. To her credit, Solène handles the advice relatively well. She’s like that peculiar colleague who is enjoyable to socialize with due to their quirks but challenging to work with for the same reason.
In essence, Solène’s charm extends beyond her yachting background, leaning more towards her social skills. She and Jess are friends, and she finds herself in a love triangle with Kyle and Damo, both of whom have feelings for her as well. During their night out, Rainbeau shows interest in Damo, but upon returning to the St. David, Solène spends time in the hot tub with the two deckhands, creating a friendly rivalry about who will get to kiss her first. No one ends up kissing, although it appears that they might at times. Kyle remarks, “It’s on,” after learning Damo didn’t kiss her while he was asleep. I foresee a situation where Solène may kiss both of them, leading to confusion about whether either relationship could develop into something romantic. Jess, however, doubts the possibility of finding love on a boat, stating, “Two weeks and you cut it out.
When the crew members inquire about Caio’s romantic plans, he informs them that he hadn’t intended to bring romance into the boat trip. Instead, he’s more engrossed in his work than in partying. However, there’s a hint of self-deception in Caio’s assertions of being a perfectionist and overly focused on his job. Regrettably, his performance so far has been marred by frequent mistakes. On the second day of the charter, Caio proposed elaborate plans for arranging water toys, but when the guests—including two children under five—were playing in the ocean, Kerry observed that only two deckhands were overseeing them as a storm approached. Kerry then called Caio away from his lunch break and roused Damo from his nap, instructing Caio to ensure all hands are on deck when winds get strong and guests are in the water. Furthermore, Kyle noticed inconsistencies in the deckhands’ schedules.
As a dedicated movie buff, I found myself on the deck of the St. David, given another opportunity to prove my worth as bosun the following day. We were tasked with navigating our vessel through Kerry’s albatross – the precarious bridge at the port. The captain summoned Jess and me for a pre-mission briefing, his stern voice echoing warnings of potential embarrassment if we failed. “If you two mess this up,” he said, “I’ll be wearing the fool’s cap.”
The tension in the air was palpable as the editors skillfully wove red herrings into our preparation. But when push came to shove, the St. David sailed through effortlessly, docking smoothly with a grace that would make even the most seasoned sailor proud. Sweat still dripping from his brow, Kerry offered constructive criticism for our team – insights I was eager to hear but unfortunately remained out of sight during the final cut. Satisfied with our performance, he gave us a nod of approval, leaving us ready for our next challenge.
In their team meeting, Kerry maintains the same demeanor: They’ve made a good start, but there’s still much ground to cover. Surprisingly, their initial performance was so impressive that it resulted in an astonishing $30,000 tip, or $2,300 per person – despite Sam being somewhat of a nuisance, he had a generous side. As the night unfolded at the club, Caio and Lawrence stood aside while the rest danced and flirted. “I’m too drained for this,” Caio lamented, coming across as a quintessential Rio man who talks a lot but struggles to deliver. So far, his efforts have fallen short of their targets, and his constant instructions seem more like a mask for deeper insecurities about his ability to handle the situation. I wouldn’t wish ill on a fellow countryman, but I’m curious if his struggles will lead to more excitement next week. I can’t wait to see another producer’s face! The sneak peek for the next charter looks promising. From what I gather, we’ll be hosting a group of adult film stars for five consecutive days on the charter. Here’s hoping they’ll inspire this crew to up their game.
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2025-06-10 06:54